The civil
liberties group Liberty claims police breached the human rights of
anti-war protesters at a Gloucestershire RAF base by using powers under
the Terrorism Act to stop them demonstrating.

Liberty has called on the Commons select committee on home affairs to
investigate alleged breaches of the European convention on human rights at
RAF Fairford, used by American B-52 bombers during the Iraq conflict.

Liberty's report, Eight Weeks of Counter Terrorism in Rural England,
says there was a policy of serving section 44 orders against demonstrators
to stop protests. The orders give police absolute powers to stop, search
and disperse people they believe are terrorists or are about to take part
in terrorist acts.

A spokesman for Liberty said: "We would like to know who gave the order
to use anti-terrorism legislation to curb legitimate protest."

Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat shadow home secretary, said: "In any
society there must be a balance between liberty and security, and it is
always difficult to strike a fair balance faced with the threat of
terrorist acts. However, on the basis of the evidence in the report, I
believe the policing of the demonstrations at RAF Fairford got the balance
wrong."

A Gloucestershire police spokeswoman could not comment for legal
reasons, but said civil proceedings had been started "with regard to the
use of legal powers during the policing of RAF Fairford" during the Iraq
conflict.